3 Must-Make Picks For PFL 3

Eric Uribe
By , Updated on: Apr 18, 2024 08:00 PM
3 Must-Make Picks For PFL 3

There is no UFC this weekend, but there is another way to profit off MMA fighting and that’s with Professional Fighters League. We’re giving out three free PFL 3 betting predictions right here so stick around if you want to make money this weekend.

  • What: PFL 3
  • When: Friday, April 19
  • Where: Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois

Before we get into our picks, we should preface by saying PFL 3 is the start of tournaments for the featherweight and welterweight men’s divisions. The entire card is mixed with those bouts and those bouts only. Competitors are grasping for the $1 million prize given to the winners before the year ends. With that out of the way, here are the three bets most worth throwing money on:

Magomed Umalatov vs. Andrey Koreshkov Betting Pick

A pair of Russian welterweights will headline PFL 3. If the odds are any indication, Koreshkov vs. Umalatov is expected to be razor close. Here’s how the best betting sites have it pegged right now:

FighterMyBookieBetUSBetOnline
Andrey Koreshkov+115+115+115
Magomed Umalatov-135-135-135

Neither of these two fighters is used to losing. Hell, the betting favorite, Umalatov is a perfect 14-0 so he’s never tasted defeat. Five of those fights have come in PFL too so it’s not like he’s racked up the record in lesser-known promotions. Umalatov is the real deal with KO power (11 of his wins came from knockout).

But then again, Koreshkov is just as legit. Matter of fact, as a former Bellator welterweight champion, he’s arguably more accomplished despite a 27-4 record. Koreshkov's title win was almost ten years ago in 2015, but he’s far from washed. He’s on a five-fight win streak entering the contest. Like his opponent, Koreshkov is a strike-heavy fighter.

So expect a mostly stand-up fight between these two Russians — not a wrestling match as you might expect. The two fighters go about their striking differently though. Koreshkov is more about keeping range and winning on output. However, Umalatov is the opposite. Due to his finishing power, he wants nothing more than to close the distance.

It’s a close fight, but we’re putting our money on Koreshkov. His resume is just far better and he’s faced legit world champions before. That experience — and the IQ that comes with it — will favor Koreshkov ever slightly.

Andrey Koreshkov to beat Magomed Umalatov
-205
BetOnline

Logan Storley vs. Shamil Musaev Betting Pick

Bellator fans will know Storley well. He was one of the promotion’s more accomplished fighters. With the PFL-Bellator merger, he is now making his PFL debut in his usual welterweight class. As it stands, Storley is a comfortable betting favorite over Musaev:

FighterMyBookieBetUSBetOnline
Logan Storley-205-205-205
Shamil Musaev+170+170+170

Musaev is also making his PFL debut. However, he might have less fanfare as Musaev has mostly fought overseas. Here’s what you need to know about him though: he’s Russian and yes, Musaev can wrestle. He’s 16-0-1 over his career on the back of a solid ground game, but he also has deceptive power (nine of his wins are via KO). Musaev isn’t afraid to let his hands (and feet) go by any means.

Only one man has ever defeated Storley — Yaroslav Amosov. Outside of that, Storley owns a 15-2 record and once held the interim Bellator welterweight championship. Storley is a former NCAA wrestler, but it’s his striking that’s really been his differentiator as an MMA fighter. He can really bring the volume, all the while still getting the takedown when his opponent has his guard down.

Here’s the X-factor in this matchup: the takedown. Musaev needs this to wear down Storley and win. The thing is Musaev’s takedowns largely come off leg kicks. That’s not Storley’s forte to begin with and his in-ring IQ is high enough to avoid those traps anyway. We sense Storley will be able to keep the fight upright, and if so, that favors him big time to win.

Logan Storley to beat Shamil Musaev
-205
BetOnline

Neiman Gracie vs. Goiti Yamauchi Betting Pick

Fight fans will recognize Gracie. Yes, he’s from the famous Gracie family — this one is a son of Márcio Stambowsky. Despite the name recognition, Gracie is a sizable underdog against Yamauchi. Check out the current moneyline odds:

FighterMyBookieBetUSBetOnline
Goti Yamauchi-250-250-250
Neiman Gracie+205+205+205

These two fought very recently while in Bellator, and honestly, it wasn’t all that competitive. Yamauchi finished Gracie in the second round, which explains the current betting odds. This fight was in August 2022, which raises the question, has anything changed since then?

We’re betting no, nothing has changed. Yamauchi is the better fighter in almost all aspects besides the ground game (it’s a Gracie, would you expect anything less?). We’re slamming a bet on Yamauchi. In fact, we included this pick because we think it’s a parlay-worthy wager. Stick this pick with another high-conviction choice and rake in the profits.

Goiti Yamauchi to beat Neiman Gracie
-250
BetOnline

How To Bet On PFL 3?

There are more than a dozen different PFL 3 fights to bet on. If you want a full list of wagers, we recommend visiting one of the below sites. Any one of 'em has you covered with every type of bet you need this weekend and beyond.

One more thing: there are even lucrative promotional bonuses that’ll pay for your PFL bets. Yes, free bets are possible with these deals. Take a look below at our favorite offers running. Pick one and boom, you’re betting for free this weekend!

Meet the author

Eric Uribe

Eric has been passionate about sports since he was 10 years old. He brings over 10 years of sports journalism experience to his expert coverage of sports betting. Hailing from the US, Eric leverages his diverse expertise covering sports at all levels – from high sch...

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